Description

Abraham Lincoln: Highly Important Autograph Quotation
Signed. Arguably the best piece in the Dow Collection, this
fragment of a lost letter from Lincoln to Baltimore lawyer Reverdy
Johnson, enunciates, in true Lincolnesque fashion, the President's
position on the successful prosecution of the war. The letter was
written on July 26, 1862 and, like many such letters, was meant for
publication. Things had not been going well for the Union army and
the President had come under attack from all sides. Since the start
of the war, abolitionists had urged immediate emancipation and
arming of the slaves. Peace Democrats thought the Union cause was
doomed and urged some sort of conciliation with the South and a
cessation of hostilities. On August 19, 1862, Horace Greeley
published "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" in the Tribune, to which
the President replied, via an open letter to the press, stating his
primary goal was to preserve the Union, with or without slavery. On
September 22, 1862, after the nominal Union victory at Antietam,
the President issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. In
July, when this letter was written, the President was still trying
to mollify border state constituencies and assure them he did not
support either emancipation or arming of former slaves. Reverdy
Johnson had been appointed by the State Department to investigate
complaints by foreign consuls against military proceedings in New
Orleans under Benjamin F. Butler. One area of contention were
efforts by Union General John S. Phelps to organize three regiments
of black troops, composed of slaves who had escaped to Union lines.
Phelps requested weapons, but Butler instead sent pick-axes and
tents. Phelps demurred putting the men to menial tasks, saying he
was not qualified as a slave overseer. On July 16th, Johnson wrote
to the President, saying that pro-Union sentiment in Louisiana had
evaporated primarily because of efforts by Phelps to arm the slaves
and the overall impression that the administration was intent on
emancipation. Lincoln replied on July 26th, assuring Johnson that
"I never had a wish to touch the foundation of their society, or
any right of theirs." He placed the blame squarely on the citizens
of Louisiana who balked at reentering the Union. He then defended
his action of sending Union troops through Baltimore after the
riots of April 1861, despite warnings that it would alienate
Maryland Unionists. The last paragraph of the Johnson letter
begins: "I am a patient man - always willing to forgive on the
Christian terms of repentance; and also to give ample time for
repentance. Still I must save this government if possible. What I
cannot do, of course I will not do; but it may as well be
understood, once and for all, that I shall not surrender this game,
leaving any available card unplayed. Yours truly A. Lincoln". This
fragment, measuring 5" x 1", contains the last eleven words of the
last sentence of the letter. This card playing analogy was typical
of the times, as many cartoons and patriotic covers depict the
principals engaged in a game of cards, or allude to someone playing
their last card, or suggest that one antagonist or another is
"played out". But, there is hidden meaning in the statement.
Despite saying he did not "wish to touch the foundations of their
society" [i.e., slavery] and not supporting the arming of slaves
entering Union lines, Lincoln, both here and in his response to
Greeley, indicates that he was open to any and all options,
including emancipation and the arming of slaves, if it was deemed
necessary to restore the Union. Indeed, Lincoln's policy was
evolving in that direction. He averred that he did not control
events, but that "events control me". So, even at this time, in the
Summer of 1862, he foresaw a change in tactics and policy. The
fragment is accompanied by an 1867 letter from Baltimore attorney
Thomas Donaldson to a young Canadian lady he had met in Ireland who
had requested an autograph or letter of President Lincoln. Possibly
wishing to impress her, Donaldson made numerous efforts to obtain a
signature, despairing of same until Reverdy Johnson finally came
through in the clutch. It is unknown what became of the entire
letter - whether Johnson cut off the signature which he forwarded
to Donaldson, or whether Donaldson received the entire letter and
cut it into fragments in order to comply with other requests for
samples of the President's handwriting. The letter gives the
historical background to Lincoln's letter to Johnson "... which
concludes with the lines cut off to be sent to you..." and
references Johnson's letter to Donaldson [not present] "... in
order that you may have in your collection a voucher for the
authenticity of the autograph." We include a book plate engraving
of Lincoln, a clipped signature and a CDV of Reverdy Johnson for
display purposes.

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